--- title: Mark Zaifman|Money Matters Blog | couples and money (3) description: couples and money | Articles on Investing, Retirement Planning, Cash Flow Planning and Tax Planning (3) --- [![Spiritus Financial Logo](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/Spiritus_Financial_logo.png?width=238&name=Spiritus_Financial_logo.png "Spiritus Financial Logo")](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/) [707-534-9478](tel:707-534-9478) ![spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png?width=933&name=spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png "spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png") # MONEY matters Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics ##### [Sharing the Same Financial Goals is Key to Successful Retirement](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/58665/Sharing-the-Same-Financial-Goals-is-Key-to-Successful-Retirement) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Jun 09, 2011 @ 10:08 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15146810-jpg/images/financial_planning_adventure.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/58665/Sharing-the-Same-Financial-Goals-is-Key-to-Successful-Retirement) Trent from The Simple Dollar has written a post called **[Robinson Crusoe and Our Journey](http://tiny.cc/rhlv7)** which I had to share with you. This post inspired me to re-read Daniel Defoe’s classic book Robinson Crusoe – so right off the bat, thanks Trent, for the reminder of this not-so-childhood classic. Trent says the book struck a chord because of his recent journey which appeared to have been about money, but was so much more, in his words, “***rethinking what’s actually important to me***.” So often this journey is the springboard to discovering what one's relationship with money really is. As a **[holistic financial planner](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/bio-mark-zaifman/)**, I constantly question clients on what it is they absolutely need, what their values are, and as Trent mentions, what is actually important to them. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/58665/Sharing-the-Same-Financial-Goals-is-Key-to-Successful-Retirement) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning) ##### [Couples & Financial Planning - Friction, Fun and Love](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52908/Couples-Financial-Planning-Friction-Fun-and-Love) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Feb 08, 2011 @ 11:04 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15149227-jpg/images/happy_couple_by_cindi_matthews.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52908/Couples-Financial-Planning-Friction-Fun-and-Love) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52908/Couples-Financial-Planning-Friction-Fun-and-Love) ** [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money) ##### [4 Retirement Income Distribution Strategies](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/51694/4-Retirement-Income-Distribution-Strategies) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Jan 10, 2011 @ 02:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15141488-jpg/images/chess_2.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/51694/4-Retirement-Income-Distribution-Strategies) For many people, feeling financially secure is the ultimate challenge of retirement or semi-retirement. At least when you were working, you could count on your paycheck to fight against the tide of unpaid bills or sustained portfolio losses. Now should some major unbudgeted expense rear up or your investments suffer a drop, you may feel vulnerable. Even a little daily stock market volatility can be wrenching for those people whose moods rise and fall with the day’s Dow Jones average. ***So what can you do?*** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/51694/4-Retirement-Income-Distribution-Strategies) ** [risk management](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money) ##### [Financial Independence (FI) and Simplicity](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Jun 22, 2010 @ 11:17 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15147284-jpeg/images/financial-simplicity.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) ** [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Four Differences in How Men and Women Plan for Retirement](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42158/Four-Differences-in-How-Men-and-Women-Plan-for-Retirement) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 06:18 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15869656-jpeg/images/men-women.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42158/Four-Differences-in-How-Men-and-Women-Plan-for-Retirement) Think there is a difference in how men and women [**plan for retirement**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/retirement-income-planning/)? I just read this interesting article by Dave Carpenter called **[Sex Matters When it Comes to Retirement Planning](http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_bbd021dd-0d2a-590c-aebe-942e59a744c2.html)**, where he explores the very different approaches men and women take when investing and retirement planning. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42158/Four-Differences-in-How-Men-and-Women-Plan-for-Retirement) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money) ##### [Your Stone Age Brain on Money - A Case Study](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42214/Your-Stone-Age-Brain-on-Money-A-Case-Study) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Apr 21, 2010 @ 11:54 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15148081-jpeg/images/fred.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42214/Your-Stone-Age-Brain-on-Money-A-Case-Study) I came across an article in the Journal of Financial Planning that really opened my eyes to how our brain works in terms of making financial decisions. The title is [**Money on Your Mind: The Brain’s Role in Financial Decision-Making.**](http://www.fpanet.org/journal/CurrentIssue/TableofContents/MoneyonYourMind/) Now you’re probably thinking, it sounds like a pretty wonky publication, but It's really not. If you’re at all interested in the role emotional intelligence plays in your **relationship with money** and investing, you have to read this case study. If the memory of the DJIA dropping over 900 points in one day is still a vivid memory, this is a must read. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42214/Your-Stone-Age-Brain-on-Money-A-Case-Study) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) ##### [Don’t let wedding bells ring in financial woes](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42245/Don-t-let-wedding-bells-ring-in-financial-woes) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Apr 05, 2010 @ 10:25 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15875854-jpeg/images/planning_couple.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42245/Don-t-let-wedding-bells-ring-in-financial-woes) Need some tips on saving money while planning your wedding? It’s that time of year again when happy couples tie the knot, and the last thing on their minds is the cost of the celebration.  Posted on the **[Financial Planning Association](http://www.fpanet.org/) **(FPA) website, **[this article](http://blog.fpaforfinancialplanning.org/2010/04/02/planning-your-wedding-avoid-the-financial-hangover/)** gives sensible information that future brides and grooms may not want to hear.  Listed are some obvious tips such as setting a wedding budget and sticking with it and monitoring spending. The not-so-obvious tips like considering a destination wedding are much more interesting. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42245/Don-t-let-wedding-bells-ring-in-financial-woes) ** [save money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [women and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/women-and-money) ##### [Making Smart Investing Decisions](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42317/Making-Smart-Investing-Decisions) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Mar 15, 2010 @ 08:25 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15867750-gif/images/making-smart-investing-decisions.gif) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42317/Making-Smart-Investing-Decisions) In an interesting study conducted at the Vanguard Group, they claim that during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, among the 2.7 million people with [I.R.A.](http://topics.nytimes.com/your-money/retirement/individual-retirement-account-iras/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier)’s at Vanguard, **men were much more likely than women to sell their shares at stock market lows**. If there is any truth in this data that says **women make better decisions around investing** - what is it?  Can science provide some answers as to why men lag behind women when it comes to making smart investing decisions? Could it be the way the male/female brain is built? Is is purely a behavioral difference? What does testosterone have to do with making investment decisions? Does brain imaging technology give us any answers? What might evolution have to do with it? In this new study by the Vanguard Group, they show some interesting results along with answers that may surprise you. Check out the study in the New York Times article titled [***How Men's Overconfidence Hurt's Them as Investors***](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14mark.html?src=me&ref=business).   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42317/Making-Smart-Investing-Decisions) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [women and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/women-and-money) ##### [12 Money Questions Couples Should Ask to Help Their Relationship](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42367/12-Money-Questions-Couples-Should-Ask-to-Help-Their-Relationship) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Feb 02, 2010 @ 11:10 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15869963-jpeg/images/money_and_couples.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42367/12-Money-Questions-Couples-Should-Ask-to-Help-Their-Relationship) From the start of the financial crisis right up until today, we have been bombarded with story after story of how much wealth was vaporized from the **global financial system**. It seems all the news is about dollars and cents. *How much did your 401k or 403b go down? How about your IRA’s, your home value?* Everything is focused on the material-money, and little conversation is had discussing the emotional, physical and spiritual ramifications this crisis is having on regular people’s lives. As a [**financial planner**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/spiritus-approach/) working mainly with couples, I see firsthand the damage this crisis has had and continues to have on relationships. Let’s face it; [**money is a tricky enough subject**](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/62772/A-Major-Roadblock-to-Financial-Independence) to deal with when things are good. But when the s**t hits the fan, whether it’s a job loss, too much credit card debt, too much spending, not enough saving, you name it, the inability to communicate and resolve conflict grows and grows and the risk to your relationship grows as well. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42367/12-Money-Questions-Couples-Should-Ask-to-Help-Their-Relationship) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) ##### [Financial Planning 101 - Funny YouTube Video](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42368/Financial-Planning-101-Funny-YouTube-Video) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 11:15 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15147119-jpg/images/financial-planning-101.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42368/Financial-Planning-101-Funny-YouTube-Video) For the most part, financial planning and money in general is pretty serious and heavy stuff to deal with. So when there’s an opportunity to take a break and laugh, why not, right? Check out this [**YouTube video, Financial Planning 101**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzdOVruFJfA): [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42368/Financial-Planning-101-Funny-YouTube-Video) ** [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money) [Previous](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money/page/2) [All posts](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money/page/4) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Recent Topics - [retirement planning (103)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [investing (93)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing) - [book recommendation (54)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation) - [relationship with money (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) - [risk management (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management) - [fee-only financial planning (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning) - [save money (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money) - [financial planning (36)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) © 2026 Spiritus Financial Planning. 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